Step Nine focuses on establishing and maintaining a safe, secure, learning environment. The classroom focus arrests early unacceptable behaviors, identifies habitual rule-breakers, and preserves environmental integrity for self-disciplined learners. Chief elements are simplicity, consistency, communication, parental involvement, and progressive…

In this article, the author discusses three steps that will help administrators build a system that allows them to bring balance back into their life. The first step is to create a picture of how things could be, because real change always comes from the inside. The second step is adjusting their attitude. Controlling their attitude is as…

A principal must identify a school's existing culture before attempting to change it. Expectation diagnosis is an interactive, four-step process for diagnosing and reshaping school culture and climate. Superintendents who ignore individual schools' climate and culture may be overlooking early indicators of declining achievement. (MLH)

A survey of 123 teachers enrolled in a university principal- preparation program revealed that teachers valued three kinds of principal behaviors: empowering (23 percent), supporting (36 percent), and communicating (41 percent). Praising is less important than treating teachers professionally, demonstrating support, and having an open-door policy.…